A Valley Without Wind 2 is a simple, but very complex game. It’s actually two very different genres in one. You’re not only playing a strategy game, but also a platformer as well. The strategy portion of the game is very similar to other games in the strategy genre.

There are four survivors at the beginning of the game (your character included) to control. More survivors are added as you progress through the game. Just like other games from the strategy genre, it’s important to collect food, scraps and other materials in order to survive. The game ends if you lose all your survivors, so you have to manage your resources and survivors wisely if plan on outlasting the evil overlord.

Once you locate a section on the world map to visit (only certain locations are available at first), you can simply ‘Embark’ to that location. The game then changes to an action based side-scroller. In this segment, you have complete control over your main character and everything is based on fast reflexes. You can jump to reach platforms and attack enemies like in any platformer.

The most exciting feature happens to be online co-op multiplayer. You can either play online cooperatively with friends or via a LAN based connection. There’s even an option to launch your own server if you prefer not to search for one online. Plus, online co-op plays like the single-player campaign, so there is no learning curve involved. The online co-op feature adds a distinct level of excitement that truly enhances the gameplay. Moreover, it’s a lot of fun battling the evil overlord Demonaica with someone else.

A Valley Without Wind 2 was recently Greenlighted on the Steam Network. A February 2013 release has been announced, but the actual release date is still undetermined. The developer, Arcen Games, is currently offering a dual pack on the Steam Network that will contain both sequels if you pre-order before the game launches.

Look to PixelPerfectGaming.com for a full review of A Valley Without Wind 2 closer to launch.